Convertible trunk



l April 24, 1934- F. Hol-'STAD CONVERTIBLE TRUNK Filed Nov. 23. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 .lkl 2 April 24, 1934 F. HoFs'rAn 1,956,097

CONVERTIBLE TRUNK Filed Nov. 23. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a, 1 d. 3 -7 IIIIIIIII INVEN-ron z'djfafs'ad. BY Warm/n juf ArroRNEv 'IWI' 11 l l i l I I l I I I I l April 24, 1934. F. Hor-'STAD 1,956,097

CONVERTIBLE TRUNK Filed NOV. 23. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOh @awa/wlmi hayfA'r-roRNEY Patented A3i-pr. 24, 1934 STATES 7 Claims.

This invention relates to articles of furniture capable of being changed or converted into diiferent shapes whereby unlike purposes may be served, and has particular reference to a trunk, capable of use as a table or desk and dresser, o1' other article of furniture.

An object of the invention is to provide an article of this type, for the use of travellers, transients, students, and even permanently located persons, that is capable of being converted for diiferent purposes in each of which it fulills its functions as completely as would an independent, separate structure.

A further feature is in the provision of structure that can be readily converted Without either adding to or taking away any of its parts, re- Inoval or change in the disposition of the articles which may be contained in its several compartments, and which requires the use of no tools or appliances in changing from one form to another.

Another purpose is to produce a device that is easy to manipulate, posses requisite strength and rigidityY in any of its several forms, and which is of neat and attractive appearance.

These and other allied objects, which will appear as the description progresses, are accomplished by the novel and practical construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, constituting a material component of this disclosure, and in Which:-

Figure l is a perspective View of an embodiment of the invention With the parts disposed to constitute a trunk.

Figure 2 is a similar View illustrating the Inanner of unfolding to form other objects.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device arranged as a dresser.

Figure 4 is a like View of a modification of the device shown in Figures l and 2, partially disposed as a desk. l

Figure 5 is a View similar to Fig.V I but showing aV modification in construction.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the parts prior to closing.

Figure 7 is a similar view indicating the device as unfolded and presenting a seat and desk.

Stated in general terms, the structure may be converted into a trunk, in Which no covers or artiiicial means are necessary to` make it appear as such, when closed into a rectangular forni, and When opened or unfolded becomes converted into a desk, dresser or the like, Without taking its elements apart or supplying any loose parts.

The main elements are so connected' as to permit of being folded inside out, presenting appropriate surfaces, as veneered Wood, canvas, indurated ber, leather, etc., etc., in each of its several forms.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, the structure will be seen to cornprise an integral rigid back plate 10 connected by longitudinally extending hinges 1i--12 at its side edges with the corners of independent containers generally designated as 14-15, in such inanner that their rear end Walls 16--17 may be swung iiat against the plate 10, as in Fig. l, in which theirside Walls 13 and 19 adjacent the hinges, may be folded to extend in an opposite direction, as in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, in which position their rear end walls are slightly in advance of `the plane of the plate i0 and spaced apart the full Width of the plate.

The opposite side walls 20-21 of these containers are connected With the walls 18-19, by

bottoms 22-23 and have tops 24--25, the latter being preferably connected by a hinge 25 to the Wall 21, as best seen in Fig. 4, provision being made to retain the top When in a raised position.

I'he open fronts of these containers are provided with closures 26-27 which extend from the bottoms part Way only to the tops andare connected by hinges 28-29 to the sides 18 and 19.

A cover, generally designated by the numeral 3G, of hollow box-like construction is attached by a longitudinal hinge 31 to the upper edge' of the back plate l0 in a manner to overlie and rest upon the tops of the containers, when folded together, as in Fig. 1, or enter between them. as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 When the containers are in spaced apart relation.

A folding front plate or apron 32 is attached by hinges 33 to the front, upper edge of the cover to extend, when in one position, down- Wardly over the uncovered portions of th'efront of the containers 14 and 15 and is provided With flanges 34 at its end edges toy engage over the sides 18-19 of the container, retaining them rrn'ly when in closed position.

When the cover is reversed and folded between the containers, it may be supported by the clo- Sures 26-'27, at that time folded on their hinges against the Walls 18 and 19, as best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

If theV structure is to be usedras a dresser it is preferred to provide a mirror 35 suitably franied, the framebeing pivoted' and having collapsible supports 36 to either retain the mirror erect or permit folding on fixed support 3'?v set in the corners of the cover, see Fig. 3.

One of the containers, as 14, may be provided with a series of drawers 39 and if desired a drawer 40 may be arranged in the cover 30, as in Fig. 4.

In order to retain articles in the container 15, a door 41 may be connected by hinges 42 to the front edge of the wall 2l, over which the closure 27 may be swung; the several doors and drawers being provided with pull knobs as shown.

Obviously, supports and receptacles for cloth-1 ing, etc., etc., may be carried in the container 15, while other, smaller articles are conveniently located in the drawers.

While locking or analogous securing devices are not shown, they may be applied in such manner as to be effective.

A similar but simplified arrangement is shown and disclosed in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the same consisting of a pair of containers 44-45 having end Walls 46-47, side walls 48-49 and 56-51.

'I'he end of the container 44, opposite the wall 46, is provided with a xed wall 52 and the container 45 presents an open front in which are a series of drawers 53, its top being covered by a permanent plate 55.

'Ihe wall 48 has a lower section 48 both sections being connected to the end wall 52 by a hinge 54 in such manner as to operate independ ently.

The end wall 48 carries at its outer edge a hinge 56 connecting a plate 58, either plain or fancifully formed as shown, capable of being folded closely against the inner side of the wall 48 or extended at a right angle as indicated and means, not shown, are provided to retain the plate when so extended.

By attaching a strip of canvas, indicated by the broken lines x-m in Fig. '7, to the upper edges of the wall 48 and corresponding edge of the plate 58 when secured in an extended position, a comfortable seat is obtained.

The containers 44--45 are connected at the edges of the end walls 46-47, adjacent the side walls 48-49 by a corner hinge 59, as best seen in Figs. 6 and 7 and are provided with a cover 60, similar to that previously described, attached by a hinge 6l to the side wall 5l of the container 45.

The cover is further provided with a leaf 62, attached by a hinge 63 having edge flanges 64.

A front cover or door 65, having a hinge 66 connected to the wall 5l of the container 45, is foldable to extend over the front end walls of both containers, as seen in Fig. 5, or folded alongside the outer surface of the wall 51 at will, this door being held when in closed position by the lower edge of the leaf 62.

Arranged in the under side of the cover 60 are one or more foldable plates 67 capable of being so positioned as to provide a iiat surface for writing and like purposes when the cover is extended as in Fig. 7, thereby furnishing a convenient article of furniture, which when folded presents the appearance seen in Fig. 5.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple device for this purpose has been disclosed in the preferred form of its embodiment, but it is not desired to restrict the details to the exact construction shown, it being obvious that changes, not involving the exercise of invention, may be made without conflicting with the scope of the appended claims.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, isz- 1. A structure comprising a rigid back, a pair of containers hinged to the upright edges of said back to fold at right angles to the front and rear selectively, said containers when disposed at the front completely covering the back and when at the rear being spaced apart the entire width of said back, a cover hinged to the upper edge of said back to fold over said containers when in intimate relation at the front and to fill the space between their tops when spaced at the rear, and means carried by said containers to support said cover when in the latter position.

2. A structure comprising a rigid back, a pair of containers having open front ends and being hinged to the upright edges of said back to fold at right angles to the front and rear selectively, said containers when disposed at the front com pletely covering the back and when at the rear being spaced apart the entire width of said back, a cover hinged to the upper edge of said back to fold over said containers when in intimate relation at the front and to fill the space between their tops when spaced at the rear, and doors hinged to said containers to partially cover their front ends in one position and to fold against their inner sides when in another position, said doors when in the latter position acting as supports for said cover.

3. A structure comprising a rigid upright back plate, a pair of containers, each being hinged at one of its upright rear edges to the side edges of said plate to fold thereagainst when two side walls are in juxtaposition, or to extend from the plate in spaced relation when folded into an opposite position, plate closures hinged to the front edges of the container side walls to fold over the front walls of said containers or against their adjacent side walls when the containers are moved into spaced relation, a hollow box-like cover hinged to the upper edge of said back plate to extend over the tops of said containers when juxtaposed and to extend between them to rest upon the upper edges of said closure plates when the containers are moved into said spaced relation, and means carried by said cover to secure said containers in a juxtaposed position.

4. A structure comprising a rigid upright back plate, a pair of containers having open front sides, said containers being hingedly connected attheir upright rear edges to the side edges of said back plate to permit folding their rear walls against said back plate with side walls in juxtaposition, said containers being movable to extend from the opposite side of said back plate in spaced relation, a series of drawers in one of said containers operable from the front thereof, closures hinged to the front edges of the container side walls which are hinged to said back plate to fold over the lower portions of the front or proximate side walls of said containers, and a cover hinged to said back plate to swing through an angle of 180 degrees to extend over the tops of the containers when the containers are juxtaposed and to seat on the upper edges of said closures when the containers are in spaced relation and the closures are folded against the side walls.

5. A structure comprising a rigid upright back plate, a pair of rectangular containers hinged at their upright rear edges to the side edges of said plate to fold thereagainst in juxtaposed position, said containers being movable to another posi tion to extend from said plate in spaced relation, closure plates hinged to the front edges of the container side walls which are hinged to said back plate to fold over portions of the front walls of said containers, a hollow box-like cover hinged to the upper edge of said back plate to extend when in one position over the tops of said containers when juxtaposed and when folded reversely to extend between said containers to rest upon the upper edges of said closure plates When said plates are folded against the hinged side walls, a mirror supported by said cover to fold therewithin, a hinged plate on said cover to extend over said containers when juxtaposed, and anges on the ends of said hinged plate to engage over the side edges of said containers.

6. A structure comprising a rigid upright back plate, a pair of rectangular containers hinged at their upright rear edges to the side edges of said plate, said containers being movable to fold against said baci; plate, with two side Walls in juxtaposition or to extend in parallel spaced relation from said plate, closure plates hinged to the front edges of the side Walls Which are hinged to said back plate to fold over portions of their front Walls when the containers are in said spaced relation, a hollow box-like cover hinged to the upper edge of said back plate to extend over the tops of said containers when said containers are in juxtaposed position and when folded reversely into said spaced relation to extend between the containers to rest upon the top edges of said closure plate when said plates are folded against the hinged side walls, plates hingedly mounted to form a level table-like closure over the open space in said cover, a hinged plate on said cover to extend over said containers When the containers are juxtaposed, and flanges on the ends of said hinged plate to engage over the side edges of said containers.

'7. A structure comprising a rigid upright back plate, a pair of oblong rectangular containers hingedly connected at their upright rear edges to the side edges of said back plate, said containers being movable to extend at right angles therefrom at one side in juxtaposed relation and at the opposite side in spaced relation, a cover hinged to said back plate to fold over the top portions of said containers, a member hinged to said cover to fold over portions of the front sides of the containers when the containers are juxtaposed and said cover and hinged member adapted to enter between the containers when the containers are moved to extend in spaced relation, and means on said hinged cover member to secure said containers together when juxtaposed.

FRIDTJ OF HOFSTAD. 

